Dr Reddy’s Inks Pact With Gilead Sciences For Remdesivir

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., on Saturday announced it has entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc. that will grant the drug maker the right to register, manufacture and sell Gilead’s investigational drug, Remdesivir, a potential treatment for Covid-19, in 127 countries including India.

Dr. Reddy’s will receive technology transfer from Gilead for manufacturing of this drug while it needs to do the manufacturing scale-up and obtain regulatory approval for marketing of this drug in the respective countries, a press release from the company said.

Remdesivir, an investigational antiviral therapy developed by Gilead, received Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. FDA to treat hospitalised patients with severe Covid-19 illness.

India currently does not manufacture Remdesivir.

The four companies - Hetero, Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd., Cipla Ltd. and Mylan NV - with which Gilead Sciences earlier entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements are still awaiting permission from the Drug Controller General of India for manufacturing and distribution of Remdesivir in the country.